Research and get land title records (2024)

We record and maintain legal property documents, such as mortgages, deeds, assignments, liens, releases, satisfactions and many others.

You can consult a professional or someone familiar with researching and interpreting real property records for more extensive searches, abstracting, title examination, legal and information needs.

Property information search

Find tax, assessment, sales and other information on Hennepin County properties using the Property information search tool.

Open all

Online access

Property owners may request a free electronic copy of their deed and certificate of title without the need for a paid subscription by emailing us at recordsrequest@hennepin.us.

RecordEASE Pro

Fee per item subscription service. Subscription includes the ability to download and view documents, certificates of title and plats.

Get access

Complete the online subscription agreement. We will contact you with your user ID and password once we process the completed subscription agreement. Please allow 1–2 business days for processing new subscriber request.

Fees

Fees are charged per item. There is no monthly subscription or search fees.

  • View recorded documents: $2.50 per document
  • View certificates of title (Torrens): $2.50 per certificate
  • View recorded plat: $2.50 per plat

Payment

Invoices are emailed monthly to subscribers.

  • Use the online payment portal with a credit card, debit card or E-check. See your recent invoice or contactrecordeasehelp@hennepin.usfor registration details.
  • Mail a check.

RecordEASE Public Search

Limited free access to online search indexes.

Get access

Email ts.recordease.support@hennepin.us. We will contact you with user ID and password within 1 business day.

System requirement recommendations

  • Web browser: Chrome or latest version of Microsoft Edge
  • Disable pop-up blocker
  • Set browser to automatically check for new versions of stored pages

Multiple parcel data downloads, screen scraping programs or other computer extraction techniques are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to deny access to any individual or party determined to be misusing the site.

Contact information

For help with online access, email ts.recordease.support@hennepin.us.

In person self-service

Public computers are available for self-service searches of property records. Real property records are best searched by:

  • Legal description
  • Individual or entity name

Find the legal description associated with your PID or address on our property information search.

Location

  • Skyway level of Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South 6th Street
  • The self-service kiosks are on the skyway level, north west from the information desk, in room SK-0353.

Hours

The research center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays.

Requirements when visiting

View requirements when visiting county buildings.

Purchase certified copies online

Purchase certified copies with credit/debit card or eCheck- Virtual Recorder

You must first register and create a user account. Once logged in select Purchase Document to complete the order.

Fees:

  • Document or certificate of title- $10
  • Plat- $15

All orders are subject to a $3 service fee

Orders will be processed for mail delivery within 1-2 business days. Funds will be taken from your account at the time of the request.

Purchase copies by mail

Please state the information needed for the request. Include document or certificate number and type (mortgage, deed, etc.).

Fees

Document or certificate of title

  • Non-certified: $1 per page
  • Certified: $10

Plats

  • Non-certified: $10
  • Certified: $15

Payment type

Make check payable to Hennepin County Recorder. Credit cards are not accepted

Request copies

Please specify if you want non-certified copies provided electronically by email.

Mail request and check to:

County Recorder/Registrar of Titles
Attn: Document copies
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S Sixth St, MC 074
Minneapolis, MN 55487

Free electronic copies of deeds and certificates of title

Property owners may request a free copy by emailing us at recordsrequest@hennepin.us.

Recent recording history

View limited recording information from the last five years online.

  1. Find your property on the property information search.
  2. Click “Recent recording history” in the search results section.

Records may not be complete based on our current recording status and subject to variances in real property and tax legal descriptions.

For access to additional recording information, review our online access options in the drawer on this page.

Restrictive covenants affecting protected classes

Restrictive covenants are restrictions on the use of land detailed in the body of recorded legal documents. In the past (primarily between 1910 and 1960) these were sometimes used to restrict the sale, lease, or transfer of property to specific groups based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, disability and other groups.

These restrictive covenants against protected classes are illegal and no longer enforceable after various court rulings and legislation, beginning in 1948.Statute now allows for property owners to file a discharge disavowing past inclusion of discriminatory covenants in their property’s history (Minnesota Statute 507.18, subd. 5).

The County Board passed a resolution disavowing the use of restrictive covenants for this purpose. Read the resolution (PDF).

How to check for restrictive covenants

  • Mapping Prejudice – this is not a definitive list of properties, but it is the most comprehensive.
  • Recent recording history search – per the County Board resolution, notice has been provided in the Abstract tract against all (both Abstract and Torrens) land potentially containing restrictive covenants in a property’s history based on Mapping Prejudice research.
  • Just Deeds – property owners or the public can get free legal and title services, including finding and disavowing restrictive covenants.
  • Consult a licensed abstract professional or a title company who is familiar with researching real property records.

What to do if you find these restrictive covenants

Because restrictive covenants affecting protected classes are no longer enforceable, you can choose to do nothing, or you can act based on whether your property’s land type is abstract or Torrens.

  • Torrens – most of these restrictive covenants have already been removed or will automatically be removed upon the next transfer of title. For information on how to remove one, see how to request an examiner's directive.
  • Abstract – you can disavow it by contacting Just Deeds or take the following steps.

Obtain the following information from the document containing the restrictive covenant affecting protected classes:

  • Document number
  • Date of recording
  • Names of owners
  • Legal description

Complete the "Discharge of Restrictive Covenant Affecting Protected Classes" form.

Have the form notarized.

Record the document with Hennepin County (See Conventional and eRecording information section). There is no fee for this type of recording.

DD214 military separation

If you recorded it in Hennepin County, you can obtain a copy of a DD214 military separation.

If the separation was recorded in a different Minnesota county or if there is uncertainty if/where it was recorded, contact the Veterans service office.

Federal data governance regulations require that military separations be available only to the veteran or those with a tangible interest (spouse, family member, etc.). There is no cost to obtain certified copies of this document for those with proof of tangible interest.

Open all

Research and get land title records (2024)

FAQs

How to find the history of a piece of land? ›

Local Assessor's Office

Many online records show current property owners, land and structure values, and assessed value for tax purposes. You may also find a legal description of the property and previous deeds documenting the sale of the property.

How do I get the history of the land? ›

Oftentimes the County Assessor's office will have records for fifty to seventy five years. After that point, the records are probably in the State Archives or Historical Society. You also should check with your local public library.

How to look up a deed in New Jersey? ›

Get Your Deed

Consumers can also go to the County Clerk's online record search at U.S. Land Records and print out a copy of your deed for free.

Are property tax records public in NJ? ›

This information is pretty simple to find. That's because property tax information is public record in New Jersey.

How do you find the value of a piece of land? ›

Land value may be determined by real estate appraisals conducted by third parties. An appraiser's assessment can be crucial to a lender's decisions on offering to finance a prospective buyer or refinancing for a property holder. Appraisal of the land can include a comparison of its condition to similar real estate.

How we find out about the history of a local area? ›

Public libraries and local historical societies often maintain special collections of biographies, histories, local newspapers, and genealogies documenting the history of a community. Check with your local librarians to find out more about any local history collections in your area.

How do I find public records in NJ? ›

State government has a web site, OPRA Central, dedicated to helping people find state government records. OPRA Central also has lists of Internet links to New Jersey public agency web sites. Seeing this link on any public agency web site brings up information about the agency's public record access information.

How do I get a copy of my deed in Middlesex County? ›

Where can I obtain a copy of my deed? Visit the Middlesex County Clerk's Land Record Search and review the User Guide before searching for your deed. If you would like a certified copy, you must send a written request or appear in-person. The fee is $2 per page and $10 for the certification.

Do you own the property if you pay someone's property taxes in New Jersey? ›

No, you do not become the owner of real property by paying someone else's taxes. What you can do is purchase a "tax sale certificate" from the municipality - in which you pay the taxes and are guaranteed a high interest rate return on your payment if the homeowner becomes current by paying the amount owed.

Is NJ a tax deed state? ›

CONCLUSION. We hope you learned a lot from Ted's lesson, “Is New Jersey a tax lien or tax deed state?” New Jersey is a tax lien state, and New Jersey tax lien certificates pay a rate of 18% per annum. The auctions are a down bidding process.

What is considered a public record in NJ? ›

"Government record" or "record" means any paper, written or printed book, document, drawing, map, plan, photograph, microfilm, data processed or image processed document, information stored or maintained electronically or by sound-recording or in a similar device, or any copy thereof, that has been made, maintained or ...

How do I find the history of an area? ›

The census and old real estate or fire maps can help you discover your neighborhood. Start small with your street or block and expand from there. If your neighborhood existed before 1940, there is an available census for you. Several online genealogical tools can help you find the enumeration district for your area.

How do I identify a piece of land? ›

The best way to find out who owns a specific piece of land is to do a search on the Land Registry website. You can use their map search to pinpoint the land you are interested in and download plans and title deeds for a small fee.

What is an acre history? ›

Derived from Middle English aker (from Old English aecer) and akin to Latin ager (“field”), the acre had one origin in the typical area that could be plowed in one day with a yoke of oxen pulling a wooden plow. The Anglo-Saxon acre was defined as a strip of land 1 × 1/10 furlong, or 40 × 4 rods (660 × 66 feet).

How to find the history of a house online for free? ›

Free Online Resources for Tracing House Histories
  1. Chronicling America.
  2. FamilySearch.
  3. General Land Records Office.
  4. Historic Map Works.
  5. Kansas Historical Society: House History Checklist.
  6. Library of Congress.
  7. National Register of Historic Places.
  8. Old House Web: Find The History Of A Home.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6106

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.